From Theory to Practice: How my Masters in Conflict and Democracy Studies Prepared Me for a Job in Wargaming
By Catherine Girard, March 2025
Having spent the years of my Master’s degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies (CDS) examining the intersection of conflict, security, and democracy, I’ve always been drawn to the complexities of decision-making in high-pressure environments. While I work on my PhD in Security and Strategic Studies, I’ve also started a new position at Valens Games, a company that transforms learning and professional development through immersive, narrative-driven experiences. At Valens, we create games that blend storytelling, complex decision-making, and real-world challenges to sharpen critical thinking and strategy.
In many ways, this work is a natural extension of my studies. Conflict is not just about theory – it’s about the decisions people make under pressure, external factors that shape their choices, and the unpredictable ways events unfold. Valens Games replicates this dynamic through signature wargames, crisis simulations, and its AI-powered platform, Providence, allowing policymakers, educators, and security professionals to practice navigating uncertainty in a controlled yet deeply engaging environment. Through these immersive exercises, participants don’t just study conflict; they experience it, analyze it, and develop strategies to respond to it effectively.
My work at Valens benefits directly from the analytical foundations I built during my master's. Just as my master’s studies required me to dissect complex political and security challenges, Valens’ immersive simulations demand risk assessment, strategic foresight, and nuanced decision-making. My studies on political narratives and their role in shaping public perception align closely with how we craft dynamic storytelling to influence player choices and simulate real-world dilemmas. And just as my academic research bridged abstract political theories with concrete case studies, Valens translates security and governance concepts into actionable decision-making scenarios.
Bringing my background in political science, security studies, and strategic analysis into this space allows me to craft experiences that push participants to think critically, adapt quickly, and engage deeply with the dilemmas of modern governance and security. It’s a great opportunity to merge research with practice, and I strongly believe the CDS program prepared me to do so